Messi or Ronaldo? Constructing a Non-Partisan Case For Who Is Better
Messi? Ronaldo? Even to whisper the names in footballing circles means to brace for the eruption of partisan opinions. Here, however, is an attempt to look at the individual characteristics of both players and arrive at a more fair perspective on who is the better player.
One is heralded as the next coming of Maradona, complete with dashing runs, dribbling dazzled opponents and a plethora of goals scored.
The other, despite having the famous name, is blazing his own, albeit familiar trail as the swagger filled, wag chasing, high-stepping, cross over performing media darling with blazing pace, goals and trendy haircuts. They are two very different types of player. Polar opposites one might muse.
Thus, the comparison of two very different players (or should that be arguments) has itself a polarizing effect on the fans. Average Joe analysis normally drills down to more emotive invoking aspects. Barca vs. Real/Man U, loyalist vs. mercenary, humility vs. swagger, Adidas vs. Nike even. Heck good vs. evil after a few beers are in!
Let's try to dispel the confusion...
Free Kicks
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Is there really a stance over a deadball more feared than this one? There is really no comparison here as Messi usually doesn't focus on free kicks.
However, that doesn't take away from the superlative that is Ronaldo standing over a free kick.
Advantage: Ronaldo
Ball at His Feet Attacking The Defender
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As a person more familiar with trying to beat a defender in basketball off the dribble; I have to say doing it in football is exponentially harder.
It is not that the field is so much bigger and there is so much more room, it is trying to retain control of the ball that counts.
Both players seem to possess the ability to beguile their opponents with feints, stabs and pure pace with and without the ball. Ronaldo may have more opportunities to showcase these skills, as he is often called upon to produce goals and goal scoring chances individually. With the ball at his feet attacking defenders, Ronaldo is able to stretch defenses in a heartbeat and provide crosses for the team or a shot for himself.
More frequently the latter.
Messi's control is of that famous La Masia school of play; retain the ball, retain control, think then pass. Barca's midfielders are causing opposing midfield nightmares on how to win the ball as a collective, and Messi is a prime example of close control. Still, Messi ever so often pops out a dexterous, ankle breaking run with the ball leaving defenders in his wake. Barca's system allows for, but is not central to that type of attack.
All the better for Messi as the opponents simply look to hack him down now rather than appearing on ESPN Soccernet in a highlight film. Still, when it does happen, it is amazing to see.
Advantage: Messi, only because he more frequently receives the ball in the middle of the pitch and is taken on by two or three defenders. He is normally hacked down but that is a sign of defender exasperation.
Crossing
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Again, there is no comparison here. Positional play sees Ronaldo on the wing with the option to cross or dribble inside. More often than not he produces a quality pass or cross for teammates.
Messi usually receives the ball in the middle of the pitch as Dani Alves and Pedro are the preferred wings in the Barca system.
Advantage: Ronaldo
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Making Teammates Better
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Again, a no brainer, whereas it is reported that Ronaldo has had a polarizing effect on his teammates (i.e there are two camps: those who like him and those who don't, Messi is well liked by all it seems).
Additionally, when player talk of moving to Barca, they speak of the opportunity to play with Messi. Players speaking of Real, talk about the honor of playing for the club. Enough said?
On the pitch, Barca hum along like a well oiled machine, while Villa and Perdo often benefit from the attention and/or passes provided by Messi to showcase their skills. Additionally, Iniesta and Xavi benefit as well.
Ronaldo's contribution to his teammates is usually more in dragging them along in his slipstream which is considerable. Real does play like a team of individuals; all trying to do their thing rather than an actual team. Evident, however, is the desire from the boss and the expectation that his teammates live up to their selection and show what they can do.
An argument can be made for which method is the better one, but statistically and results wise, there is no comparison.
Advantage: Messi
Pure Goal Scoring Production
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At the end of the day, scoring goals is the name of the game.
Between 2009-10 and this present season through Feb. 20th, Messi has 89 appearances, 88 goals and 31 assists.
Ronaldo has 72, 67 and 18 respectively through Feb. 19th.
Advantage: Messi, even if you discount for familiarity with La Liga and the club's systems, Ronaldo was given a free reign to produce last year and used it to full effect prior to Mourinho reigning him in.
However, from a purely statistical analysis, Messi's average is closer to a goal a game with more assists thus is the more productive player. It is a slim margin, but a margin nonetheless.
The Big Game Player
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Well this is a topic for debate. Who rises to the big game and delivers consistently? Who is the gamer and has his mind right?
Honestly, Real haven't been in the big games recently to observe performance form Ronaldo. At Man U., there was no question who the boss was with the game on the line and Ronaldo produced consistently picking up Player of the Year awards to boot. In the last Champions League final he played in, it was clearly observable that he was the only Man U. player who wanted to play when Barca went up 1-0. The rest conceded at that point in time. He battled the entire defense by himself, but of course, could produce nothing as Puyol shut him down.
In La Liga there has been a failure to reproduce the trophies of the past, adjusting to two coaches in two years is bound to take some time. There is no question, as well, who is going to go down shooting til the end even if the team goes down. There is no question though of his will to win, just a question, it translates into results in the end....at the moment. Early exits in King's Cup, Champions League and failures to produce in Clasico's would leave fans wondering. It is not fair to blame it on one player, but if you are the man you need to produce important performances for your team to win trophies.
Messi, on the other hand, has risen to the big games and produced important goals. The trophies keep accumulating at the Nou Camp and no one questions whether Messi is involved. Contrastingly, he has also been marketed out of the big games, Barca/Inter in the Champions League last term, deferred shots to Keita and Busquets, as opposed to taking Barca on his back.
Arsenal were also beneficiaries of an off game by La Pulga although he was a victim of a bad offsides call. Every player has a bad game or two, but overall, Messi has risen to the task and the results have shown.
Barca's system is perhaps more suited to Messi's skills than Ronaldo's to Real, and thus more opportunity to see Messi in action in the big games.
Advantage: Messi, at the moment.
Who Would I Choose?
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I began this article actually leaning a bit to Ronaldo because of his versatility edge over Messi (i.e he can do more or rather is required to do more on the pitch). I wonder how Ronaldo would look in Barcelona's system of play.
Having considered all the criteria however...
There Is a Clear Cut Choice: Lionel Messi
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I think this is the clear cut choice for the better player, what do you have to say?
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